ARTH 215 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Pedestal, Isenheim Altarpiece, Contortion
8 Feb 2018
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Mathias gothart neithart, isenheim altarpiece, oil on panel, 1515. Made for a plague hospital, hermit monks of this order were devoted to healing as a part of their service to god. Central subject = jesus dying on the cross. However, he does not look like a typical elevated christ, instead he looks tortured and surrounded by mary, john the evangelist, Mary magdalene and john the baptist (who was actually dead at this time) This image is very repellant and horrifying, not the most beautiful of men. As much was his beauty and goodness were above all others, his death and suffering is greater than all others as well. Cramped fingers and arms are stretched out painfully, the torture he is depicting is thought to be inspired by the popular writings at the time. Mary is wearing all white, falling very stiffly down, she is depi(cid:272)ti(cid:374)g the origi(cid:374)s of the ter(cid:373) (cid:862)(cid:272)o(cid:373)passio(cid:374)(cid:863)
